Victory over Leeds Rhinos fuels Bradford Bulls’ belief of causing another Challenge Cup upset

Championship Bradford head to Wakefield Trinity in the Challenge Cup fifth round tonight, the first time the sides have met since that dramatic Belle Vue decider in 2015.

Trinity, of course, hung on to win 24-16, protecting their Super League position and denying their rivals an immediate return.

Former World Club champions Bradford are still stuck in the second tier having also dropped to League 1 and gone into liquidation during the interim.

However, prop Crossley – the only surviving member of that game who plays tonight – recalled: “It was a really good year.

“We had a very good run in the play-offs and the Million Pound Game went right down to the wire until Scott Moore got over.

“It was a tough result to take and obviously we haven’t managed to get back up since. But you can’t live in the past. It was a sad day and it did lead to another bit of a fall for Bradford.

“But the brand is rebuilding again, we’re enjoying some good times and we’re looking to the future now. It will be nice to go back to a Super League ground and have another crack.”

Bradford, indeed, are looking forward to the chance to reacquaint with Wakefield especially having famously knocked Leeds Rhinos out of the competition last term.

Crossley, 30, said: “That was a great event and we’ve drawn another Super League team now.
What we did to Leeds means the belief is there that we can do a job.

“It’s more or less a free hit for us as it’s Championship against Super League. There’s no pressure on us going in and we’ve picked up a few wins on the bounce so confidence is high.”

Crossley, who debuted for hometown Bradford in Super League 2010, had a brief spell with Castleford Tigers in 2015.

But he moved back into the Championship with Bulls and said: “I’ve no regrets; I don’t like sitting in the stands picking up money. I’d rather be on the field earning it.”

He moved to Toronto Wolfpack in 2017 before rejoining Bradford for a third time a year later.